Railway-rail connection



'JanQBO, 1923. 1,443,722.

S. BALKWILL.

RAI'LWAY RA |L CONNECTION.

FILED JULY 21. 1922. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. I

Jan. 30, 1923. 1,443,722.

s. BALKWILL.

RAILWAY RAIL CONNECTION.

FILED JULY 21,1922. 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

l @I I h I fi f J i .25 "C 222's lf 22 pas/\ll/l/ll) I 20 I 3103711297? v J (FM T0 aZ-Z eo'homit 17mg concern:

Patented Jan. 30, 1923.

' TEf. ST

"STEPHEN BALKWILL, or CLEVELAND, orno.

Runway-RAIL oonnnoeron."

Application filed July2 l 1922. SeriaLNo. Win-5 93..

Be it known that I, STEPHEN Benn-WILL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland in the county of Cuyahoga and Stat'elof liio have inve nted a certain new and useful improvement in Railway-Rail Connections, of which the followingiis a-i full, clear, and exact description.

T his invention "relates to rail connections capable of use in'irailwa'y crossings, frogs,

'rail oints or splices-and for other'purposes.

It is an object of the invention to 'provide a connection which is .yieldable andin which the bolts cannot be tightened "beyond a safe limit.

following description and the annexed draw- 111 8. l l he annexeddrawingsand'following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention. The disclosed means, however,-constitute but a few of the various-mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may beemployed.

Reference should be hadto the accompanyingdr'awings forming a part of this specification in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a crossing embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is azseotion on line 22of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 isa fragmentary. side elevation of a connection from the side on which the pressure bar :is applied showing the ratchet nutlock'; Fig. 4 1s a section on line '4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of. a pressure bar showing a modified form of ratchet nut lock; Fig. 6 is a transverse section: through the pressure bar shown-in Fig. 5; Fig; 7 is a fragmentary side elevationshowing the bolt head socket; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of arail joint; Fig. 9 is a transverse-sectionthrough the jointEshown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10=is aview similar toFig. 9, showing the position of the nut withzrespect to the pressure bar when given an eighth turn from the position shown-in Fig.9; Fig. 11 .is asectional view snowing :itIIlOCll-fiQdfOIflIl of nur,--lock. 1 The present iinventi'on has appl cation particularly 'to rail-connections employ ng pressure bars which are .pressedoutwardly from the rail against the .nuts or bolt heads by springs. Themain improvements (con- .temp'latedby the present invention consist of; the application of I supplementary springs .in additiontothose through which the bolts pass to increase the spring..-pr-essure and i to obtain aconnection of greater strength, and the application of suitable stops and nut locks to preventzthe nuts on the bolts from unscrewing from the bolts. These improvements maybe used singly or jointlyrbut are most advantageously used together. "For convenience these improvements are shown inFi-gs 1to-7 of the drawing asapplied to an articulated crossing such: as that-covered by Patent No. 1,233,437 granted slulyl'l,

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1- shows a: crossing-structure comprising angle -member's 1 formed with rail'tread portions2 adapted to abutagainstand align with rails 3 of intersecting tracksand U- shapedcrossing members 4 secured together by the angle members '1 and having tread portions 5 whichgalign with the rails 30f the tracks and the -tread portions Q-of-the angle meinbers 1. Theycrossing' members 4 1133 5 rearwardly extending'arms' :6 which extend alongside the treadportions 20f the angle members' andthe abutting ends ofthe rails- 3 formingjguard rails and also-serving as splice bars for connecting the ends of-the rails 3 to the anglenien -bers 1. lnside the tread-portions '5 of the crossing" members 4 are guard rails 7 which 'may be integral with the members '4 or detachablysecl fid to the members 4. Pressure bars 8 are so cured alongside of tlie-rearwardly' extending arms of the angle and 'U-sh-aped crossing members and-pressure bars- 9 are secured alongside of the traclrforming portions of the U-shaped crossing-cmembersz4. :Tl readed bolts 10 having-integralheads lljext-end tend through the-angle members 1,=th e arms 6 and the p'ressure'bars 8 beyond the end of the rails'3. -For-securing the. guardrails 7 through the angle members 1,-rails 3,- ar-ins'.-@105 6 and pressure bars-8. Other bolts-10 ex-.

in place the 1 bolts -extend through-crossing v members 4, guard rails 7 and pressure bars 9. It is desirable that suitable means be provided to hold the bolts against rotation. This may be accomplished invarious ways as well understood in the art. As. shown herein, sockets 12 are formed inthe outer face of the part against which the heads '11 of the bolts bear in which the heads 11 fit and are held against rotation. Nuts 13 which may be of any suitable shape and which, for purposes of illustration, have been shown square. are secured upon the threaded ends of the bolts 10 outside the pressure bars 8 and 9. Coil springs 14 are positioned upon the bolts 10 between the pressure bars 8 and the arms 6 and also between the pressure bars 9 and guard rails 7. To provide against unscrewing of the nuts 18 and overtensioning of the bolts 10, 1 provide nut locking projections or stops either integral with the pressure bar or upon washers nonrotatably secured upon the outer face of the pressure bar. These steps may be either single or plural and when plural their number corresponds to the number of facets on the nuts. These nut locking stops or projections may be formed to act as one way ratchets for the nut as shown in Figs.

2, 3 and a, or as two way ratchets as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and a, ratchet lugs 15 are formed integrally upon the outer faces of the pressure bars about each of the bolt holes forming between them a socket between which the nuts 13 are adapted to fit. In one position of the nut the lugs 15 lie just outside and closely adj acent the side edges of the nut. The lugs 15 are inclined from end to end in one direction and the inner face of the nut is preferably slightly rounded so that upon rotation of the nut in a direction to tighten it upon the bolt, the corners of the nut will ride up along the inclined faces of the lugs 15 forcing the pressure bar bodily inwardly. After each quarter turn the pressure bar springs back and the nut lies within the socket formed by the lugs 15. The direction of the inclined face of the lugs 15 is such that the nut may be turned by means of a wrench in a direction to tighten the bolt but the nut cannot be turned in a reverse direction unless the pressure bar is first forced bodily inward by means of a suitable tool.

In order to obtain greater spring pressure between the pressure bar and rail additional coil springs 16 may be interposed between the inner face of the pressure bar and the track member to which it is applied suitable means being provided to hold the coil springs 16 in position. As shown in Fig. i positioning lugs 17 which may be formed integrally with the pressure bar 8, extend inwardly from the inner face thereof and project into the coil springs 16. The pressure bars 8 and 9 are preferably in the form of channel bars with inwardly extending flanges forming a housing for the bolt carried springs 1 1 and supplemental springs 16. In Figs. 5 and 6 a modified form of ratchet lug 15 is shown. The outer faces of the lugs 15 are inclined outwardly from both ends toward the center so that the nut 13 can be rotated in either direction by means of a. wrench, the lugs 15, however, serving to effectually lock the nut 13 from working loose, due to the vibrations to which it is subjected in use.

In either of the modifications above described, the pressure bar is permitted to spring back slightly after the final turn on the nut relieving slightly the tension upon the bolts 10. I

Where rigid connections are employed it often happens that the nuts are drawn too tight placing the body of the bolt under, excessive tension so that it is not able to resist the violent impacts to which it is subjected.

' The breaking of bolts dueto this cause is avoided by the present invention due to the yielding connection and to the action of the ratchet look.

In Figs. 8, Sand 10 I have shown the invention applied to an ordinary rail joint in which the rails 18 are connected by splice bars19 and 20 of an old and well known type. I

An angle pressure bar 21 is secured outside the splice bar 20 and bolts 23 extend through the splice bar 19, rail 18, splice .bar 20 and pressure bar 21. The splice bar 19 is formed to provide sockets for the heads 23 of the bolts whereby the bolts are held against rotation and coil springs 24 are interposed between the splice bar 20 and the pressure bar 21. A washer plate 25 which may be in the form of a rolled channel bar is secured against the outer face of the pressure-bar 21 and has short outwardly extending flanges which project on opposite sides of nuts 26 which are screwed upon the ends of the bolts 22. The inner faces of the nuts 26 are preferably slightly rounded sothat as the nut is rotated the corners thereof will ride up upon the flanges of the washer bar 25, as shown in Fig. 10. The flanges of the washer bar 25 in this modification perform the same function as the ratchet lugs 15 or 15 in the modifications heretofore described.

In Fig. 11 a modified form of nut lock shown in which a channel washer 27, which may be in the form of a bar extending the whole length of the pressure bar or may be simply in the form of a washer for a single bolt, has inwardly'extending flanges fitting over the upper and lower edges of the pressure bar whereby it is held against rotation with the nut. The washer 27 has a lug 28 with an inclined outer face engaging the inner side of the nut 29, the nut against working loose.

29 being reviews with a amused ineib ll alternately forced inwardly and permitted't'o spring back as the-nut 29 is irotated. When the inner face of the nut 29 in full engagement with the outer face 'of the lug 28, the nut is effectively held Having described my invention, '1 claim I l ln a railway rail connection, "the combination with the rail, of a rigidside bar secured. against the side of the rail, apli'n ralityo'r" b'o'lts passing through the rail and side bar, each of said bolts having a head and a threaded end adapted to receive a nut, means for holding said bolts against rotation, a pressure bar through which the threaded end of the bolts extend, and springs interposed between said bars, said pressure bar having a rigid projection adjacent each of the bolt holes, each projection having an inclined face engageable with the nut.

2. In a railway rail connection, the combination with the rail, of a rigid side bar secured against the side of the rail, a plurality of bolts passing through the rail and side bar, each of said bolts having a head and a threaded end adapted to receive a nut,

means for holding said bolts'against rotation, a pressure bar through which the threaded ends of the bolts extend, and springs interposed between said bars, said pressure bar having an integral projection at one side of each of the bolt holes, said projection having an inclined face adapted to be engaged by the nut.

3. In a railway rail connection, the combination with the rail, of a rigid side bar secured against the side of the rail, a plurality of threaded bolts passing through the rail and side bar and held against rotation with respect thereto, a pressure bar through which the threaded ends of the bolts extend, nuts upon the threaded end of the bolts, and springs interposed between said bars, said pressure bar having rigld projections ly ng beside the edges of the nuts in one position of the nuts and engageable with the inner face of the nuts upon rotation thereof.

4. In a railway rail connection, the combination with the rail, of a rigid side bar secured against the side of the rail, a plurality of threaded bolts passing through the rail and side bar and held against rotation with respect thereto, a pressure bar through which the threaded ends of the bolts extend, nuts upon the threaded ends of the bolts, and springs interposed between said bars, said pressure bar having a plurality of rigid projections on its outer face lying beside the edges of the nuts, said projections having inclined faces engageable with the corners of the nuts upon rotation thereof.

" 5, In a railway rail connection, the coin-- 7 bination withthe rail of a rigid, side bar secured against thefside of the raiha pressure bar upon the ,outer side or said side bar, a plurality of'claniping bolts extending 'thro ughsaid rail and bars, coilsprings surrounding said clamping-bolts and interposed between said bars, and 'a supplemental spring in addition to those surrounding the bolts interposeafbawan said bars.

6. In a railway rail connection, the comrounding said clamping bolts and interposed between said bars, and additional coil springs interposed between said bars, said pressure bar having positioning lugs upon its inner face engaging the outer ends of said additional springs.

7. A' railway crossing structure, comprisbination with the rail, of a rigid sidebar secured against thesideozt the *rail,-a press'urejbar upon the'o'uter'side 0% said sidebar, a plurality of clamping bolts extending through said rail and bars, coil springs suralongside the joint between an angle memher and its aligned track rail, a pressure bar extending along the inner side of each of said arms, bolts extending through the rails and angle member, the rearwardly extending arms and the pressure bars, and springs interposed between said arms and said pres sure bars.

8. A railway crossing structure, comprising angle members adapted to be secured to the ends of the rails of the intersecting tracks, and having angularly disposed tread forming portions adapted to be aligned with the treads of the rails of the tracks, U shaped crossing members each having a tread forming portion adapted to be aligned with a rail of one of the tracks and having rearwardly extending arms each lying alongside the joint between an angle member and its aligned track rail, a pressure bar extending along the inner side of each of said arms, threaded bolts extending through the rails and angle member, the

rearwardly extending arms and the pressure bars, means for holding said bolts against rotation, nuts engaging the threaded ends of said bolts outside said pressure bars, springs interposed between said pressure bars and arms, and rigid ratchet lugs carried by said pressure bars and engageable with said nuts.

9. A railway crossing structure, compris ing angle members adapted to be'secured to the ends oi the rails of the crossing tracks, and having an 'ularly disposed tread forming portions adapted to be aligned With the treads of rails of the tracks, U-shaped crossing members each having a tread forming portion adapted to be aligned With a rail of one of the tracks and luaving rearwardly extending arms, each lying alongside the joint between an angle member and its aligned track rail, a pressure bar extending along the inner side of each of said arms, bolts extending through the rails and angle inemloers the rearwardly extending arms and the pressure bar, coil springs mounted on each of said bolts and interposed between the pressure bars and arms, and additional springs interposed between said bars and TECH 155i 10. In a railway rail connection, the combination with a rail, of a pressure bar alongside the-rail threaded bolts passing through said rail and bar, springs interposed between said rail and oar means for holding said bolt against rotation, nuts on said bolts on the outer side of said bar, and rigid ratchet lugs on said bar engageable With said nuts.

In testimony'whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

STEPHEN BALKWILL. 

